Gaseous injector with columnated jet oriface flow directing device

An electromagnetically operable fuel injector for a compressed natural gas fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, said injector having a generally longitudinal axis, which comprises:

• a) a ferromagnetic core;
• b) a magnetic coil at least partially surrounding said ferromagnetic core;
• c) an armature coupled to said magnetic coil and movably responsive to said magnetic coil, said armature having a first upper end face and a lower end portion;
• d) a valve closing element connected to said lower end portion of said armature and interactive with a fixed valve seat defining a fuel valve aperture to selectively permit fuel to pass through said valve seat as said valve closing element is moved to a valve open position by said armature;
• e) a fuel inlet connector extending in a generally longitudinal direction above said armature and defining a path for fuel to enter said inlet connector and to be directed toward said armature, said fuel inlet connector having a lowermost end portion having a lowermost surface spaced above said armature to define a working gap through which said armature is movable;
• and
• f) a fuel columnating jet device having positioned below said fuel valve, said columnating jet device having a first funnel shaped section to receive a flow of gaseous fuel from said fuel valve, and a second generally cylindrical section positioned downstream of said first tunnel shaped section, said second generally cylindrical section having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the across-sectional dimension of said aperture of said fuel valve.